As Atlantic City and the world's boxing community counts down to Saturday, Dec. 17, when the Showtime Super Six Classic Finals will take place at Boardwalk Hall with the much-anticipated bout between finalists Carl Froch and Andre Ward, AC Weekly brings you four days of interviews with the two fighters as well as fellow boxers and tourney participants Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham.
Pictured: Andre Ward and Carl Froch (right)
In an interview with Atlantic City Weekly, one of the Super Six finalists, the United Kingdom's Carl "The Cobra" Froch," talks about Saturday night's bout with Andre Ward with AC Weekly contributor Rob Scott.
First off, congratulations to you for reaching the finals of the Super Six Classic.
Cheers.
When we last spoke, you just came off of a hard fought impressive victory against Glen Johnson in your semi-final match. Give us an idea how tough a journey it’s been to get to this point in the tournament.
To be totally honest, the only fight I found difficult was Kessler. I turned up too late due to my plane being cancelled and as a consequence I wasn’t my usual energetic self during the fight. So I stood in punching range all night and had a real tear up, and oh, I loved it. It made for great viewing and now since regaining my title I’m now a two-time WBC champion, so it’s all good. Hopefully, we can make the re-match and set the record straight. All my other tournament fights were pretty easy.
I’ve asked this of Ward, but give me your pre-tournament take on who you thought would reach the finals, besides yourself.
I thought it would have been out of Kessler and Ward.
Ward has stated that everyone from the European fighters, promoters and even the network really thought he and Andre Dirrell were just put in the tournament as bodies with no chance of winning. What was your take on them before the tournament’s first bell?
I don’t think they were put in to make up the numbers, that’s just ridiculous. They are both very talented fighters and have a great amateur pedigree, so that’s not true. I’d not actually heard of Dirrell, but I knew Ward was close to a mandatory shot at my WBC title. I watched him against Miranda and thought he did what he had to do to win, but I wasn’t overly impressed.
I’ve been in and around the sport for too long to think one fighter will be beat by another, just because he has a loss against someone who his opponent has beat. You have a close loss to Mikkel Kessler, but Andre Ward dealt with Kessler rather handily. What’s your take on your different outcomes, and what will you do to Ward that Kessler couldn’t do?
I mentioned earlier about my fight with Kessler. Watching him against Ward, he was awful, he flew into Ward’s hometown and wasn’t ready for a 12-rounder due to his recent inactivity. Watch his fight with Ward, and then watch his fight with me. Totally different, and however, styles make fights! I will hit Ward very hard and very often; he’s not going to be able to take my consistent heavy shots which will be coming for 12 rounds if necessary.
I remember talking to “Chop-Chop” Corley after he faced Floyd Mayweather, ironically at Boardwalk Hall, and he recanted his pre-fight thoughts about Mayweather’s punching power, saying “His punching power is very deceptive.” You have publically questioned Ward’s power and heart; just how much legitimate respect for those aspects do you really hold for Ward?
Not much!
"On Saturday, June 2, we're going to have an all-star boxing legends tribute. What we're trying to do is get together all of the boxing personalities. Whether they are boxers, managers, promoters, ring announcers, referees, you name it, we're trying to get together everybody to celebrate the contribution that they have made in making Atlantic City the boxing mecca that it is."
"My father raised me to always be confident, but always humble. I’m far from a pushover, and always firm, but there is no need to go around tooting your own horn for every little thing you do. I believe in the abilities God has blessed me with, and I believe I’m one of the fiercest competitors in the sport of boxing and that’s enough for me."
Carl Froch: "I will hit Ward very hard and very often; he’s not going to be able to take my consistent heavy shots which will be coming for 12 rounds if necessary."
Day Two - Interview with fighter Mikkel Kessler, who was forced to end his bid for the Super Six Classic Cup because of an injury, but not before handing finalist Carl Froch a defeat he’ll never forget.
Day One: Germany's Arthur Abraham on the Carl Froch vs. Andre Ward Super Six Classic Finals showdown.
Ward-Froch Reset for Dec. 17 The highly anticipated boxing event of late 2011, the Super Six World Boxing Classic Final, featuring Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch, and slated for Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Oct. 29, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17. Andre Ward, the WBA Super Middleweight World Champion and Super Six finalist, was injured (a cut above his right eye) during a recent sparring session, forcing the postponement of the world title unification fight. The announcement came last week from Ward’s promoter, Dan Goossen, of Goossen Tutor Promotions; Froch’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport; and Ken Hershman of SHOWTIME, following a tweet by Ward that read: “Bad News: I sustained a cut in sparring a few hours ago…flew...
A comprehensive schedule of upcoming fights in Atlantic City with all the details on every fighter stepping into the ring. Upcoming boxing events include Joe Deguardia's Star Boxing, Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Jorge Solis, Sergio Martinez against Darren Barker, and the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
1. Anonymous said... on Dec 16, 2011 at 04:15PM
“can't wait !!!!!”